Alabama gymnastics will host five home meets in 2019.
The new season will officially start Jan. 4 with a quad meet in Coleman Coliseum featuring Southeast Missouri, Northern Illinois and Temple. There will then be another one the following week on Jan. 11 with Denver, Michigan and Bowling Green State.
“This is about really introducing this team to the new championship format early in the season, going four teams on the floor,” Alabama coach Dana Duckworth said. “It’s kind of exciting. It’s like, to me, you start off the first two nights of your season like you want to end it.”
The new postseason format will have multiple changes, but what Duckworth is referring to is the fact the NCAA Championships will now have four teams on the final night of competition rather than six.
Alabama has never opened up with a quad meet under Duckworth, who’s entering her fifth season in charge, and has really only competed in one with her before.
The last time the Crimson Tide began a season at home was 2015, Duckworth’s first season.
“You’re going to see a lot of gymnastics the first two home meets,” she said. “And then you go into three amazing duels after that.”
LSU, Florida and Auburn are all coming to Tuscaloosa. The LSU meet falls on Jan. 25 and will be Alumni Night. Florida has been picked to be the Power of Pink meet on Feb. 15. The Iron Bowl, which will double as Senior Night, is scheduled for March 1.
“This is a dynamic home schedule,” Duckworth said. “The SEC is so strong. Honestly, no matter whether you compete away or home, it prepares you for the best championship season you can have.”
Official meet times are pending on TV schedules, but most started at 7:30 p.m. last year.
Regular season tickets are available online and through the Alabama Ticket Office for $45. If purchasing four or more at a time, the price drops to $40. UA faculty and staff can get them for $35.
Alabama also offers a new family pack option for $120, which includes two adult and two youth tickets for the corner sections of Coleman Coliseum.
“Of course you know I’m biased about our fans: We have the best in the world,” Duckworth said. “So just to be in that environment with them, they’re difference makers.”
Alabama’s annual Elevate the Stage meet against Auburn will be March 9 at the BJCC Legacy Arena in Birmingham.
Reach Terrin Waack at twaack@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.
